Director Statement
During a journey through the remote regions of the Himalayan mountains, my producer and I encountered a man in his late sixties who walked up to us and said that we should take him to the city and he has her phone number. We did not know how to respond. He repeated his statement a few more times and then walked away.
We asked other locals about this and they shared with us his profoundly tragic love story. He fell in love with a girl from a wealthy family while growing up in a nearby village. Their love ignited a spark between them, but their secret meetings were
abruptly cut short by her family. He endured a brutal beating at their hands, leaving him physically scarred and mentally shattered. Although he recovered from his injuries, he was never able to heal emotionally. For the rest of his life, he could only repeat the
haunting words, “Take me to the city… I have her phone number.”
Meeting this man and hearing his heart-wrenching tale deeply moved us and inspired us to create this film. It explores themes of love, family, dreams, and ultimately, sacrifice.
'The Labourer' takes the audience on a breathtaking journey through the majestic Himalayas, following a young love story that, though it blossoms, remains forbidden before it can truly come to life.
First Feature
Synopsis:
Shahbaz, a young laborer from a remote Himalayan village, longs for a life beyond the confines of poverty that has defined his family. His journey takes a turn when he moves to a nearby village, where he encounters Armeena, a spirited young woman from a wealthy city family. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, the two form a deep connection, with Armeena taking the initiative in their romance. However, their love story unfolds in a hyper-conservative environment, where societal norms pose a significant threat. As whispers of their relationship spread through the village, Armeena's family becomes determined to protect their honor at any cost. In a tragic turn of events, Shahbaz is brutally beaten by village bullies, leaving him mentally impaired and unable to communicate or socialize effectively. Forced to live in isolation for the rest of his life, he reflects on a love that once promised freedom but ultimately led to a heartbreaking fate.
The film is made with an almost entirely non acting cast. Most of the film is in Burushaski which is an endangered language of the Hunza people
Watch Trailer.
Building Connections
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We started the company in 2015. We had comfortable jobs and we decided to leave all that behind to pursue a somewhat unreasonable dream.
That's where the name ROCKETMAN comes from. We have since then worked on tv commercials for some of the leading brands. We have made short films that have made their way to important international film festivals. and eventually in 2024 we made our first feature film, The Laborer.
The rocketman films name and spirit keeps pushing us forward.
Team RocketmanFilms
Ammar Rasool
Director/ Producer
I have been making movies in my head since childhood. Now I make them in real. But still, first they are made in my mind. And the process of converting these stories and moments from my head to a screen is where the magic space exists.
Currently CEO at Rocketman Films, est. 2015
Casim Mahmood
Executive Producer
I have always been able to get really good at something once I decide that it just has to be done. I saw an article in a magazine about Eric Clapton and I became a self taught blues guitarist. I taught myself jazz by listening to Coltraine. And then one day I decided I have to make films.
Short Film
KINGDOM'S END is a short that made it to the CAMERIMAGE FILM FESTIVAL, LA SHORT SHORTS and the CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER.
It is based on a short story written by the famous Urdu literary figure SAADAT HASSAN MANTO.
It is about a homeless man who finds temporary lodging at a friend's office who is out of town. A woman calls the office phone number by mistake. Something about their first time interaction intrigues the woman and she calls again. They keep talking for the next few weeks where they start to crave the next conversation.
Things become difficult for the guy when the woman disappears for a few days. At the same time the building security wants him out because his friend has given up the office and it has to be cleaned up for the new tennant.